Rope marker



J. B. REBER Dec. 3, 1929.

ROPE MARKER Filed May 8. 1928 l lllllllfl bij 3, Milli@ PATENT OFlCE JAMES B. REBER, F AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TG COLUMBIAN ROPE COMPANY, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATICN OF NEW YORK ROPE MARKER Application filed May 8, 1928.

rl`his invention relates to improvements in means for the identification of ropes.

llt has heretofore been quite difficult to provide a rope mai-lier, or means for identifying a piece of rope, due to the fact that the identifying means are either destroyed by the use of the rope, or if the structure of the identifying member remains in or on the rope, the identifying data carried by such structural means are quite often destroyed either by abrasion or by the use of the rope for marine purposes. Again, it has always been a matter of importance that the identifying means be incorporated in the rope in such Wise as not to interfere With the rope construction proper, as, for instance, the displacement of some of the fiber constituting the rope, which would result in unevcncss on the surface of the rope and consequently undue wear on certain portions thereof. It has also been desirable to provide identifying means that extend throughout the length of the rope, so that any portion thereof may be readily identified. lln connection with such a continuous marker, it has also been found neces sary that the saine be so incorporated in. the rope that little, if any, of the strains or stresses imposed on the rope be ransmitted to the marker. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a rope identifying means or a rope'n'iarker incorporated in the rope in such fashion as to have imposed thereon wvery little Wear by abrasion, as where the rope passes over pulleys or the like.

Another object is to so incorporate the inarllter in the rope that practically no strains will be imposed upon it, thus eliminating possibility of breakage of the marker Where a continuous one, extending throughout the length of the rope, is used.

More specifically, the invention consists in a marker consisting of a pliant, tape-lille member, preferably continuous, laid or secured in the spiral depression formed in the surface of a rope by the convolutions of tWo iurtaposed strands or elements constituting the rope. lf desired, a plurality of markers may be applied to any one piece of rope,

Serial No. 276,080.

each niiarler occupying a separate depression in the rope.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a View of the exterior of a section of rope having the present markers laid in two of the depressions in the surface thereof;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the rope shown in Figure l with but one of the markers illustrated to show how the marker is secured in place;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of a rope, showing a modified form of the marker laid in one of the depressions thereof;

Fi g. l is a very similar to Figure 1, showing` a different form of marker; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of the rope shown in Fig. t.

In the prefered embodiment of the invention, one or more markers l() are laid in the depressions 1l. formed on the surface of the rope by juxtaposed strands or elements 12 of which the rope is composed. Preferably, these markers are of some pliant material, for instance, paper tape, and extend through` out the length of the rope, being laid spirally around the rope in said depressions. In the form illustrated in Figures l and Q, the tape is run into the rope substantially fiat, a portion thereof being embedded between tWo of the rope elements, as indicated at 13, and the remaining portion thereof being fully exposed in the depression 10, so that any identifying matter carried by the exposed portion may be conveniently read. The compactness of the several elements, when twist ed together, is sufficient to securely hold the' marker in place, so that there is very little likelihood of the latter being accidentally displaced.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the tape, whether it be of paper or other suitable material, is folded longitudinally, and the edge formed by the crease is laid in the bottom of the depression 11a at the surface of the rope. The two folds l0?L of the marker are fully exposed at the surface of the rope, and 'While the marker may be rather securely retained in place by being pinched between the rope elements l2, nevern theless, if desired, some suiutable adhesive 'material may be placed on the tape, so as to yaid in maintaining it in its proper position.

A third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs.r 4 and 5, consists in twisting the marker, before it is applied to the rope,

vand then laying it spirally in one of the depressions extending along the rope surface.

As illustrated, the twisted marked b is rather closely embedded between the rope elements 12b, so as to be rather securely held in the lower portion of the depression 11b formed byV said strands or elements.

It will be observed that in each form of the invention, no portion of the marker is located on any portion of the rope surface that might be subjected to abrasion when in use.

In each instance, the marker is located wholly Within, or rather below the working surface `of the rope or,-the outer extremity, so to speak, of the spiral depression in the rope surface, so that no Wear 1s imposed on the marker itself. Again, by having. the marker laid spirally around the rope, no longitudinal stresses are placed on the marker when the rope is under tension. This also adds greatly to V the life of the marker and insures all Vportionsof'the rope being vcapable of immediate Yidentification at all tunes, where a conv tinuous marker is initially applied to the Y. rope. It should also be added that adhesive material may or may'not be used with the form of the invention illustratedl in Figs. 4;

and 5, to assist in maintaining the marker nates all possibilityof the marker detrimentally affecting the strength of the rope or the life of the rope, by displacement of any of the fibers, constituting the same. n

before pointedY out, however, the location of the markeren the exterior of the rope is not detrimental, in'so far as Wear onthe marker is concerned, dueto lthe fact that it :is amply protected in the lowerinost portions of thedepressions inthe rope surface.

,Sion-i by WhatIv claim is: Y

1.,.A rope marker consisting of anelongatedpliant member laid in a depression formed inthesurface of the rope by two of the twisted elementsconstituting said rope, said'marker being maintained in said depresyshaving, aportion thereof pinched be tween said elements. Y Y

24A rope marker consisting ofan elongated pliant member partially embedded be tweenjthe convolutions of t-Woof the eleposed at the surface of the rope, the exposed portion of said marker being located entirely in the depression formed by the convolutions of said rope members.

3. A rope marker consisting of a continuous, pliant, tape-like member laid in the depression formed in the surface of the rope by two of the s irally arranged elen'ients constituting the rope, said member being located entirely below the working surface of the rope.

4. A rope marker consisting of an elongated pliant member, creased longitudinally with the edge formed by the crease located at the bottom of the depression formed in the surface of the rope by the convelutions of two of the elements constituting said rope.

5. A rope marker consisting of an elongated pliant member, creased longitudinally with the edge formed by the crease located at the'bottom of the depression formed in the surface of the repo by the convolutions of two of the elements constituting said rope, and the folds of said creased member lying Wholly within said depression.

6. A rope marker consisting of an clon* gated pliant member laid spira-ily around the rope and located wholly within a depression formed in the surface of the rope by the convolutions of two of the rope elements.

JAMES B. REBER.

ments'constitutng the rope and partially ex Y llO 

